UNICEF

What is a Rights Respecting School?

The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a UNICEF UK programme that aims put children’s rights at the heart of schools in the UK. UNICEF UK work with thousands of schools across the country to embed children’s rights in their ethos and culture to improve well-being and develop every child’s talent and ability to their full potential. Schools work with UNICEF UK on a journey to become fully Rights Respecting. The Award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC or UNCRC) into practice within the school and beyond.

At Wenlock School, we are proud to have been awarded a Silver accreditation for Rights Respecting. We are now well on our journey to be Gold!

What does it involve?

The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) focuses on children’s rights in schools and takes a whole-school approach to child rights and human rights education. Child Rights Education (CRE) can be defined as learning about rights, learning through rights and learning for rights within an overall context of education as a right. It aims to build the capacity of children as rights-holders to claim their rights, and the capacity of adults as duty-bearers to fulfil their obligations. Child rights education helps adults and children to work together, providing the space and encouragement for the meaningful participation and sustained civic engagement of children.

At The Wenlock School, our ethos has developed along the basis of our ten shared school values.  The fundamental principles of the RRSA allow us to further enhance and develop this ethos and gives us a framework through which to further empower and develop our children to recognise their rights and responsibilities as they journey through their education.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) has a profound impact on children and young people, and the school as a whole. When the principles and values of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) are introduced and reinforced throughout school life, children and the wider school community benefit. As we implement the RRSA standards, they enable children and young people to make informed decisions and to grow into confident, active and empowered citizens.

What does it mean to be a Rights Respecting School?

Rights Respecting Schools is an award by the charity UNICEF. The award is for schools that are working towards children’s rights becoming an embedded part of their school ethos. It teaches children about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and enables them to be Rights Respecting Global Citizens and advocates for fairness and social justice in our local community, our country and across the globe.

A rights-respecting school is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted. Young people and the school community learn about children’s rights by putting them into practice every day.

We feel it is important that when children learn about their rights it is important that deeper connections are also made in their understanding about the nature of rights so they are taught the ABCDE of their rights.

What are the main areas of impact we are seeing?

• Improved self-esteem and well-being.
• Improved relationships and behaviour.
• Improved engagement in learning.
• Positive attitudes towards diversity in society and the reduction of prejudice.
• Children’s enhanced moral understanding.
• Children’s support for global justice.

Achieving Silver: Rights Aware means there is evidence that:

• Our school is explicitly embedding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in its policy, practice and culture.
• We are promoting knowledge and understanding of the Convention throughout our school community.
• We are putting into action and developing the plans outlined on our Action Plan for Silver, which we submitted to achieve Bronze: Rights Committed.
• We are beginning to see the positive impact of these actions on children and young people, staff, and on the school’s ethos, practice and environment.
• Children and young people are beginning to see themselves as rights respecting global citizens and advocates for fairness and children’s rights, both locally and globally.

Children and young people also play an increasingly leading role in driving progress. At Gold: Rights Respecting, we are aiming to intensify and broaden:

1. Teaching and Learning about rights: for the whole school community through training, curriculum, assemblies, topics, focus days/weeks, displays.
2. Teaching and Learning through rights: by modelling rights respecting language and attitudes and making strategic decisions that involve students.
3. Being ambassadors for the rights of others: developing as rights respecting citizens

RRSA Accreditation Report – Silver: Rights Aware